Zohran Mamdani Is Making NYC’s Mayoral Race Interesting
By Romen Basu Borsellino | 09 May, 2025

The Indian-Ugandan Muslim candidate for Mayor seeks to consolidate the progressive support needed to defeat disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo

In seven weeks, New York City Democrats will choose between a 67 year-old white man who has been in politics since 1991 and a 34 year-old first-term Indian-Ugandan Muslim. While there are seven candidates running to be the democratic nominee for New York’s Mayor, polling has consistently shown the race coming down to former NY Governor Andrew Cuomo and State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani.

Mamdani is far from your typical candidate. 

For one, he is unabashedly progressive and openly embraces the title of Democratic Socialist. His policies, all centered around lowering the cost of living in NYC, include free buses, no-cost childcare, rent freezes, and city-owned grocery stores. And unlike most politicians, he has refused to shy away from criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Oh, and before ever running for office, he was a rapper under the stage named Mr. Cardamom.

Mamdani’s approach is a stark contrast to that of Cuomo, who is running both as a Democrat and an Independent thanks to New York’s unique ballot rules. Cuomo will have a spot in the general election even if he fails to secure the Democratic nomination, a move likely to turn some Democratic voters off. Current Mayor Eric Adams, who has been embroiled in a corruption scandal, is skipping the Democratic primary all together and running solely as an Independent. 

While some candidates shy away from identity politics, Mamdani has fully embraced the diversity that he would bring to City Hall. His launch video alternates between him walking into Bodegas in a suit and walking down the street wearing a traditional South Asian kurta.

When his campaign office received voicemails calling him the N-word, an “unhinged Muslim” and telling him to “die quickly” Mamdani posted them on social media for the world to see. 

In New York City’s 400 year history just two mayors have been Black, including current Mayor Eric Adams. The rest have been white men. 

When Andrew Yang’s 2021 Mayoral Campaign came to an end, so too did the possibility of New York’s first Asian mayor. Until Mamdani announced his candidacy last year.

According to polling, this is not an especially close race. At least, not yet. The latest numbers have Andrew Cuomo polling at 34% to Mamdani’s 16%. The next candidate behind Mamdani is polling at just 6%. In 2024, Cuomo was infamously forced to resign as New York’s Governor following mounting accusations of sexual harassment from female staffers. For better or worse, he still benefits from name recognition.

But there are many reasons one would be foolish to count Mamdani out. To name a few:

- It’s common for the most well-known candidates to peak too soon. Such was the case with Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential face-off with Obama or Anthony Weiner’s mayoral bid last cycle.  What matters down the stretch is momentum. 

- New York’s unique “ranked choice voting” system would allow Zohran to consolidate the support of progressives voters who are currently backing another candidate as their first choice.

- Most ad spending has hardly even begun. Zohran still has a chance to define himself — and his opponents — to voters.

- Endorsements: Many progressives like AOC have stayed on the sidelines thus far. But should she and others decide that Mamdani is the clear anti-Cuomo candidate, their support could substantially move the needle. 

Last Sunday, Mamdani held a 2,000 person rally that was closed to the general public. Rather than sell himself to undecided voters, the event aimed to energize his supporters, which he clearly achieved. Now let’s see how infectious that energy is.